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Wednesday, February 12, 2003

During its heyday in the 1940s and '50s, the sound of jazz could be heard on the streets of the Hill District well into the night.

A hot spot between New York and Chicago, Pittsburgh's jazz center was the Hill District. One of its treasures is the Crawford Grill, opened in 1943 by Gus Greenlee.

A major showcase for local talent on the jazz scene, the Crawford Grill was known nationally and helped to put Pittsburgh on the entertainment map. Jazz musician Nelson Harrison described it this way: "The Crawford Grill didn't pay [hardly] any money. It was just the place to play ... [but] everybody who was anybody was in your audience."

The Crawford Grill eventually became a stop on the national jazz circuit; its first national booking was a performance by Charlie Mingus. Musical greats such as Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and many more played there. It was a happening place into the wee hours of the morning. The Crawford Grill often was called "third base," since it often was the last stop before home. Many big-name stars such as Rudy Vallee would stop in after their own performances Downtown were over for the evening.

Although the original Crawford Grill in the 1400 block of Wylie Avenue was demolished in 1956 for development, a second Crawford Grill was opened at 2141 Wylie Ave. A fall in jazz culture over the years, as well as economic difficulties of the Hill District, has caused the Crawford Grill to struggle. However, although it has changed hands several times over the years, it continues to hold a place in Pittsburgh's jazz history and boasts a state historical marker to prove it.

-- By Amber Boucher, History Center Library and Archives intern